See the fastest sport on skates at its only Canadian stop this year: Ottawa

Red Bull Crashed Ice is set to chill and thrill!

Ottawa – The Ottawa 2017 Bureau and Mayor Jim Watson, in collaboration with lead partner CIBC, are delighted to welcome Red Bull Crashed Ice to Ottawa for this weekend’s Ice Cross Downhill World Championship, part of the year-long celebrations in the nation’s capital for Canada’s 150th birthday.

Residents and visitors are invited to take in all the adrenaline-pumping sporting action as this FREE event takes over – and makes over – the picturesque Ottawa Locks, which form part of the Rideau Canal National Historic Site and UNESCO World Heritage Site, next to Parliament Hill, the Fairmont Château Laurier and Major’s Hill Park.

Schedule of events:

Friday, March 3

4 p.m. – Gates open to the public

6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – World Junior Championship

Saturday, March 4

4 p.m. – Gates open to the public

6 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Ice Cross Downhill World Finals

There are several viewing areas for event-goers to enjoy the experience, including the Ottawa Locks, Major’s Hill Park, Wellington Street and York Street in the ByWard Market. For details on how to access and what to expect in each zone, visit Ottawa2017.ca.

Due to expected large crowds and security checks, it is strongly recommended that participants leave all backpacks, pets, lawn chairs and large items at home. Backpacks and bags will be screened, which could result in delays accessing the viewing zones.

Canadians can catch all the Red Bull Crashed Ice action LIVE beginning at 8:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 4, on Rogers Sportsnet 360 and TVA Sports 2. Fans around the world can also tune into the LIVE webcast at redbullcrashedice.com, on Red Bull TV and via the free Ottawa 2017 App.

QUOTES

“Canada’s big year happens here, in the nation’s capital, and we’re excited to welcome residents and visitors to Red Bull Crashed Ice, the first big blockbuster event of the Ottawa 2017 celebrations. This weekend and the months ahead will showcase our city like never before to millions of visitors and will have a positive, lasting impact,” said Mayor Jim Watson.

“Red Bull Crashed Ice is happy to welcome some of the world’s best athletes to Ottawa, for the culmination of the Ice Cross Downhill World Championship. We’re proud to showcase the fast, physical and intense action to people in Canada’s capital city,” said Christian Papillon, Red Bull Crashed Ice Sports Director.

“The 150th anniversary of Confederation is an opportunity to spend unforgettable moments with family and friends, and to create a feeling of pride in our communities. Red Bull Crashed Ice is a wonderful example of an activity that will remain forever in the memories of residents and visitors. It’s an event you won’t want to miss!” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

“Having the Red Bull Crashed Ice world series finale in Ottawa is going to be an incredibly exciting experience for locals and visitors alike. Ontario150 is proud to support this international competition – a jaw dropping feat of skill, speed and agility. We’ll all be on the edge of our seats as we watch our Ontario athletes compete, including Scott Croxall who is vying to reclaim his 2015 world series champion status. Go Ontario!” said the Honourable Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

“As lead partner of Ottawa 2017, we couldn’t be more excited to help bring this dynamic, world-class production featuring premier athletes and exhilarating action, to Canadians. This year is about creating memorable experiences as we celebrate our shared 150th birthday with Canada. Red Bull Crashed Ice is one of the many once in a lifetime events that will transform our nation’s capital and will be remembered for years to come,” said Monique Giroux, Vice-President, Sponsorship Marketing & Strategic Partnerships, CIBC.

“Red Bull Crashed Ice is an epic event that crystalizes perfectly what Ottawa 2017 is all about by showcasing our most precious heritage assets in an eclectic and edgy way,” said Guy Laflamme, Executive Director of the Ottawa 2017 Bureau.

Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations will offer Canadians and visitors from around the world an exceptional and memorable year of high-caliber experiences while bringing a record number of visitors to Ottawa in 2017 to celebrate this important milestone for our country.

Ottawa 2017 is thrilled to present Red Bull Crashed Ice as one of its Signature Events and thanks its lead partner CIBC, premier partner Bell, the Government of Ontario (www.ontario.ca/150 #ontario150) and the Government of Canada (www.canada.ca/150 #canada150) for their contributions in helping to deliver twelve full months of bold events, immersive experiences and all-out celebrations.

To make this exciting event happen in such a spectacular location, Ottawa 2017 is collaborating with the City of Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, Parks Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, the National Capital Commission, the Fairmont Château Laurier, the Ottawa-Gatineau Hotel Association, the Bytown Museum, Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc., the Senate of Canada and Stantec for engineering services.

Stay informed on plans for Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations in the capital. Visit ottawa2017.ca, follow us on Twitter@2017ottawa(#Ottawa2017) and on Facebook.